Tigers Top Orioles 2-1

Published 9:00 pm, Saturday, August 10, 2002

Damian Jackson and George Lombard had RBI singles for the Tigers, who sent Baltimore to its fourth loss in 11 games.

Sparks (7-11) earned his second straight victory and third in four starts with a knuckleball that usually fluttered in around 65 mph and kept the Orioles completely off-balance.

He struck out two, walked two and got some solid defensive play behind him, particularly from backup second baseman Jackson.

Sparks gave up only two hits and had a 2-0 lead until Luis Lopez led off the eighth with a pinch-hit single, Jerry Hairston doubled and Lopez scored on center fielder Wendell Magee's throwing error.

Oscar Enriquez came in and escaped a bases-loaded, two-out jam when Marty Cordova lined out to left. Juan Acevedo pitched the ninth for his 22nd save in 26 chances.

John Stephens (0-2) had the best of his three big league starts but was touched for single runs in the first two innings. Stephens also kept the hitters off-balance with a fastball that averaged around 85 mph and changeups in the mid-60s.

The right-hander gave up seven hits, with six strikeouts and no walks in seven innings.

Jackson, who started as regular second baseman Damion Easley got a day off, had an RBI single in the first and made several fine plays in the field.

Jackson made a diving stop and threw out Chris Richard to end the Orioles' fourth, then ran behind the mound to cut off Jose Leon's slow roller and made an across-the-body throw to retire him leading off the fifth.

Lombard scored on Jackson's single after he led off the first with a single and stole second.

Lombard made it 2-0 in the second with an RBI single.

Notes:@ Stephens got the start when Sidney Ponson went on the disabled list last week. … Tigers backup catcher Matt Walbeck got his third start of the week and went 2-for-3. He's started only 17 games all season. … Lopez is 3-for-6 as a pinch-hitter. … Bobby Higginson didn't start in left field for the Tigers but entered as a defensive replacement in the eighth.